But activists have called for public officials in the 8th Ward, where the incident occurred, to expand a task force created to promote more tolerance toward gays and lesbians in the area and provide more services for them.

On Tuesday, advocates asked City Council candidates on the Feb. 27 ballot to attend a meeting Sunday at Chicago State University and announce their support for gay rights in the African-American community.

"Thank God nobody died. But out of that tragic incident, we're able to find our voice and our strength. After we called everyone together, we did something that's never been done before in this town," said Marc Loveless, an activist who organized the news conference. "We just said to everybody, 'We need to bring this community together with people who are responsible and call them to be accountable.' "

The attack and the surrounding controversy have pushed into the public arena issues that have long been talked about among black gays and lesbians. For example, there are few services and social venues for gays and lesbians on the South Side, advocates said.

Most are on the North Side, said Vernita Gray, a liaison to the gay community for the Cook County state's attorney.

The South Side isn't the only area that lacks prominent services for gays, she said. Similar concerns exist in other predominantly minority areas.

Long before the shooting, residents had complained to police about the late-night parties and loud music in the two-flat in the 7900 block of South Woodlawn Avenue. Some neighbors said the sexual orientation of the men in the apartment wasn't an issue; they were just concerned about the strangers coming and going from the home.

One of the tenants, who asked to be identified only as Romeo, said neighbors rarely had complained about the noise.

About 5:30 a.m. Dec. 31, about 75 to 100 partygoers were in the basement and first-level apartment when a gunman burst through the side door and another stood in the back yard pointing a gun at the back door, he said. By the time the gunmen fled, six people had been shot.